Process of treating match-splints.



W. A. FAIRBURN.

PROCESS OF TREATING MATCH SPLINTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1912.

maw Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

III iIIIIIIiII Inn COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. :4

IINITED STATES PATENT @FEIQE.

WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN, 0F SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PROCESS OF TREATING MATCH-SPLINTS.

intense.

Applicationfiled November 29, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. FAIR- BURN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Short Hills, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Treating Match- Splints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of impregnating match splints with a material or materials which will render the splints nonglowing after the same, as finished matches, have been ignited .and the flame extinguished.

The main object of my invention is to provide a process whereby the impregnation of the splints shall be expeditiously andeconomically effected during the production of matches upon a match-making machine of the so-called continuous type wherein the splints are inserted row by row in an endless carrier and thereby transported through the match making path.

In carrying out the process, in a simple and eflicient manner, I provide at a suitable point beneath the route of the splint carrier, a bath comprising a suitable antiglowing material, (such as boracic acid), dissolved in a liquid, (such as an alcohol), of high evaporating power, whereby the depending splints on the traveling carrier are dipped into the solution to a sufficient depth and for a suflicient period of time until the requisite impregnation of the splints with the antiglowing material has been effected. When an alcohol, such, for example, as methyl alcohol, is employed as the solvent, it may, for economys sake, be diluted with water. The bath is preferably maintained at a temperature considerably below that of the surrounding atmosphere in order that the extent, or rapidity, of the evaporation of the volatile solvent shall be materially reduced; and a mild current of air is caused continuously to pass over the surface of the bath in a manner to exhaust therefrom vapors or fumes which may arise from the solvent. It is important that the intensity of the air current should be nicely adjusted with reference to the evaporating power of the solvent in order not to accelerate the evaporation too much. The vapors and fumes thus expelled from the bath are conducted to a suitable condenser and receiver Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Serial No. 733,956.

and the alcohol or other volatile solvent recovered.

The splints, after being treated with the contents of the bath as above described, pass into a vaporizing chamber and are therein subjected to the action of an air current of sufficient intensity to extract the solvent from the splints in the form of vapor and expel it from the chamber. The vapor thus exhausted is also conducted to a condenser and receiver and the volatile solvent recovered.

If desired the interior of the vaporizing chamber may be heated in order to facilitate the evaporation of the solvent in the splints.

The annexed drawing represent-s diagrammatically an apparatus of simple and efficient construction for practically carrying out the process above set forth, which apparatus may be briefly described as follows:

A is a portion of an endless carrier into which the splints are inserted in consecutive rows and are thus transported through the match making path.

B is a structure comprising a casing in which are provided two chambers C, D, into and through which progresses the carrier with its loadof depending splints; the ends of the casing having suitable ingress and egress openings for the carrier and its splints, and the inner side walls having rails for the support and guidance of the carrier. The chamber G contains a bath (0) composed, for example, of an alcoholic solution of an impregnating salt or salts, into which the splints are dipped during their travel, passing thence directly into the chamber D in which the solvent is evaporated out of the splints.

The chamber C is provided, preferably at or near its bottom, with a circulating pipe system 3 for a cooling or refrigerating agent, either gaseous or liquid, whereby a lowering of the temperature of the impregnating bath is efiected and maintained in order that the extent, or rapidity, of the evaporation of the volatile solvent shall be materially reduced. This chamber is also provided with a suitable overfiow pipe 4 having an adjustable head 5, in order that the bath shall be maintained at a predetermined level. It is further provided, preferably in one of its side walls and directly above the liquid level, with an opening 6 from which leads an exhaust pipe 7 whereby a gentle, extremely mild current of air is caused to pass over the surface of the bath as above mentioned.

The chamber D is provided, preferably in one of its side Walls and adjacent the horizontal plane of the splints, with an opening 8 from which leads an exhaust pipe 9, whereby a strong current of air is established in the chamber as above mentioned. This chamber is also provided with a circulating pipe system 10 for hot water, steam, or other heating agent, if desired to accelerate evaporation.

In the present illustration the pipes 7, 9 lead to a common pipe 11 and the latter communicates with an exhaust fan, air pump or the like (12), preferably of the positive action type, by actuatiomof which the described drafts are induced in the impregnating and vaporizing chambers. The several pipes are properly proportioned, and the pipes 7, 9 are provided with suitable valves or dampers 13, 1 1, respectively, in order that the relative intensities of the drafts can be nicely adjusted to meet the varying requirements of service.

The exhaust orifice of the fan, etc., is connected by means of a pipe 15 with a condenser 16 of any usual or approved type, and the latter, in turn, is connected with a receiver 17, whereby the vapors and fumes which are removed from the bath and vaporizing chamber are distilled, and the volatile solvent thus economically recovered for further use.

I claim- 1. The process of treating match splints to impart non-glowing properties thereto, which consists in subjecting the splints to a bath comprising an anti-glowing substance in a volatile solvent under the influence of a cooling or refrigerating agent which maintains said solvent at a temperature be-- low that of the surrounding atmosphere.

2. The process of treating match splints to impart non-glowing properties thereto, which consists in subjecting the splints to a bath comprising an anti-glowing substance in a volatile solvent under the influence of a cooling or refrigerating agent which main tains said solvent at a temperature below that of the surrounding atmosphere, and in causing a mild current of air to pass over the surface of the bath in a manner to ex haust therefrom the vapors or fumes without materially accelerating the evaporation of the solvent.

3. The process of treating match splints to impart non-glowing properties thereto, which consists in subjecting the splints to a bath comprising an anti-glowing substance in a volatile solvent; in causing a mild current of air to pass over the surface of the bath in a manner to exhaust therefrom the vapors or fumes without materially accelerating the evaporation of the solvent, and in continuously condensing the vapors which are exhausted from said bath.

4:. The process of treating match splints to impart non-glowing properties thereto, which consists in subjecting the splints to a bath comprising an anti-glowing substance in a volatile solvent; in causing a mild current of air to pass over the surface of the bath in a manner to exhaust the vapors or fumes Without materially accelerating the evaporation of the solvent; in introducing the splints thus treated to a vaporizing chamber; in exhausting the vapors and fumes from said chamber, and in continuously condensing the vapors which are exhausted from the bath and vaporizing chamber.

5. The process of treating match splints to impart non-glowing properties thereto, which consists in subjecting the splints to a bath comprising a solution of anti-glowing substance in water and alcohol; in causing a mild current of air to pass over the surface of the bath in a manner to exhaust therefrom the vapors without materially accelerating evaporation of the alcohol, and in continuously condensing the vapors thus exhausted.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York this 26th day of November A. D. 1912.

WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN.

Witnesses:

MARTHA M. VVooDLAND, B. CHANDLER SNEAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

